AAA Stand-Up Late (Bound And Gagged Comedy)

The three acts on ‘AAA Stand-Up Late’ have been touted as the great white hopes of the comedy industry by numerous award panels and journalists. After watching this lazy and forgettable show, which promised so much laughter yet delivered so little, I am convinced that judging standards have deteriorated. Welshman Tommy Rowson, the undeserving winner of last year’s ‘So You Think You’re Funny?’ competition, offered hackneyed observations about alcohol, relationship breakdown and the Liberal Democrats, while the impish Tom Webb proved that an onslaught of crude swearing cannot conceal a dearth of smart jokes. When Lloyd Griffith, the floundering MC, resorted to bizarre impressions of adhesive tape pulling noises, it was clear that this show had been a dreadful rip-off.